Flashlight-continuity tester having plug and jack arrangement

ABSTRACT

A continuity tester includes circuit interruption means coupled in series with the electrical circuit of a flashlight. A pair of continuity testing leads is connected to the interruption means by a plug to which the leads are coupled and a switch-including jack positioned on the flashlight and coupled to the interruption means. When the continuity leads are disconnected by removing the plug, the jack switch electrically bypasses the interruption means and the flashlight can be operated in a normal fashion. When the leads are connected by inserting the plug into the jack, the jack switch changes position and the flashlight can be lighted only when electrical continuity exists between the test leads.

[ NOV. 27, 1973 2,899,638 8/1959 Olson..i.. 3,634,680 l/l972 PrimaryExaminerGerard R. Strecker Attorneyl-laro1d W. Reick [57] ABSTRACT Acontinuity tester includes circuit interruption means coupled in serieswith the electrical circuit of a flashlight. A pair of continuitytesting leads is connected to the interruption means by a plug to whichthe leads are coupled and a switch-including jack positioned on theflashlight and coupled to the interruption means. When the continuityleads are disconnected by removing the plug, the jack switchelectrically bypasses the interruption means and the flashlight can beoperated in a normal fashion. When the leads are connected by insertingthe plug into the jack, the jack switch changes position and theflashlight can be lighted only when electrical continuity exists betweenthe test leads.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 15717; Harold W. Reick, 7535 Woodvale, S.E.,Grand Rapids, Mich. 49508 June 15, 1972 S T N w g mT s D E H N U HAVINGPLUG AND JACK ARRANGEMENT [76] Inventors: David C. Garrett, 105 LakeviewDr., R.R. No. 2, Blairsville, Pa.

Appl. No.2 263,307

Field of Search..............................

United States Patent Garrett et al.

[ 1 FLASHLIGHT-CONTINUITY TESTER [22] Filed:

324/53 324/53 Hays FLASHLIGHT-CONTINUITY TESTER HAVING PLUG AND JACKARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toan electrical continuity tester which is combined with a flashlight.

Frequently, a continuity tester is needed for testing electricalcircuits, fuses, bulbs, or other electrical equipment. In someinstances, when for example, testing a fuse which has blown out, it isnecessary to provide light to the fuse box area darkened by the loss ofelectricity due to the blown fuse. Frequently also, a continuity testermust be used in other areas requiring light.

By combining a continuity tester with a flashlight therefore, the needfor light, as well as continuity testing apparatus is met. Also, aflashlight provides a convenient and portable source of electricalcurrent and a lamp which can be used as a continuity light. Severaldevices have been proposed to provide a combined continuity tester andflashlight. Of these, US. Pat. Nos. 2,742,607 issued Apr. 17, 1956, toJ. P. Ryan and 2,899,638 issued Aug. 11, 1959, to A. V. Olson arerepresentative. These devices either employ a separate light for thecontinuity testing and utilize only the batteries of the flashlight, oremploy a relatively complex structure which is generally usable withonly one type of flashlight (i.e., one with only an insulated case orone with a metal case) which is specially manufactured for thecontinuity tester.

Some proposed devices employ continuity test leads which plug into aflashlight but the jack on the flashlight performs no switching functionand no unique circuit interrupter is used. One device provides anextension light with a bulb (separate from the flashlight bulb) coupledto a plug which is inserted into a switchincluding jack on a flashlight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION None of the known prior devices however,incorporate a switch-including jack for a continuity tester or circuitinterruption means which can be universally used with flashlights havingconducting or insulating cases and flashlights with or without removableend caps.

In addition to providing a combined continuity tester/flashlight, abroader aspect of the present invention includes structure which can beemployed to modify existing flashlights thereby converting them to dualfunction units.

It is an object therefore of the present invention to provide animproved continuity tester/flashlight.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a continuitytester/flashlight with a switchincluding jack for converting theflashlight to a continuity tester when the continuity test leads areplugged into the jack, but which permits normal operation of theflashlight when the leads are removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved andsimplified circuit interruption means universally usable with conductingand insulated flashlight cases.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provideapparatus for converting a flashlight into a combined continuitytester/flashlight.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentupon reading the following specification together with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram partiallyin schematic, pictorial, and block form showing a continuity testerembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in cross sectionof the continuity tester shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged front elevation view of a portion of theapparatus shown in FIG. 2 taken along the lines III-III; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conversion kit for converting aconventional flashlight to a continuity tester in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG.1, there is shown a continuity tester 10 which is incorporated into aflashlight having an insulated or conducting case 12 represented in thefigure by the dashed lines. The continuity tester includes the normallamp 14 of the flashlight together with a pair of batteries 16 and 18which are coupled in series with the positive terminal of battery 16coupled to one terminal of the lamp. The remaining terminal of lamp 14is coupled to one terminal of a thumb switch 20 by means ofa conductor19. The remaining terminal of switch 20 is electrically coupled to aconducting bias spring 22 by means of a conductor 21 which, in aflashlight with a metal case, can be the case itself. Normally, thecircuit for the flashlight is completed by the connection of thenegative terminal of battery 18 to the bias spring 22.

In the continuity tester however, a circuit interrupter 30 is physicallyand electrically interposed in series between the rear of negativeterminal of battery 18 and the bias spring 22 to electrically insulatethe battery from the bias spring thereby interrupting the circuit. Theinterrupter could also be coupled between the batteries or betweenbattery 16 and lamp I4. interrupter 30 includes an input electricalcontact 32 coupled to the battery 18 and at least one output lead 34electrically coupled to terminal 32.

Lead 34 is also coupled to a switch-including jack 40 which is mountedon the flashlight case at a suitable location and which includes anouter contact 42, a center contact 44 and a switching contact 46. In theembodiment shown, a conductor 45 couples the outer contact 42 to theswitching contact 46 while lead 34 of the interrupter is coupled tocenter contact 44. A conductor 36 couples contacts 42 and 46 toconductor 21 through the bias spring 22 or if the interrupter is placedelsewhere in the circuit, to the circuit element which is physically incontact with the rear of the interrupter (i.e., opposite terminal 32).

Employed with the continuity tester of the present invention is asuitable plug 50 which is adapted to fit within jack 40 and includes anouter or barrel contact 52 which electrically contacts the outer contact42 of the jack and an end contact 54 which electrically contacts thecenter contact 44 of the jack. When the plug is inserted into the jackit opens the normally closed switching contact between contacts 44 and46.

A pair of test leads 56 and 58 each include alligator clips or suitableelectrical probes 59 at one end thereof and have their opposite endscoupled to one of the contacts 52 or 54. When the plug 50 is insertedinto jack 40 and switch of the flashlight is actuated. the leads 56 and58 serve as continuity test leads which will allow lamp 14 to actuateonly when electrical continuity exists between the leads. When the plug50 is removed from the continuity tester 10, switch contact 46electrically contacts the center contact 44 thereby coupling terminal 32of the circuit interrupter to the bias spring 22 such that theflashlight can operate normally.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, which show the details of a circuitinterrupter which can be employed, it is initially noted that jack 40 isa sub-miniature phone jack of the type frequently employed in portabletransistor radios. In FIG. 2, jack 40 and plug 50 are shownapproximately three times life size for clarity while the remainingcomponents are slightly less than life size.

The circuit interrupter comprises a disc of insulating material 31 whichcan be paperboard, plastic or any other suitable insulating material.Disc 31 has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of thecylindrical batteries l6, l8 and includes an aperture 33 formed throughthe central portion. Extending through aperture 33 is an end 35 of theoutput conductor 34. Conductor 34 has an insulated jacket 37 whichcovers the conductor from its junction with the rear surface 38 of disc31 to its electrical connection with jack terminal 43 electricallycoupled to the center contact 44 ofjack 40. End 35 is extended through asnugly fitted conducting washer 39 positioned against the front surface38' of disc 31 and is bent over the washer to form a physically securecontact. In some embodiments, the end 35 of conductor 34 can be solderedto washer 39 to form the input contact 32 for the circuit interrupter.In other embodiments, it may be possible to eliminate washer 39 andsimply bend the end of conductor 34 against the disc 31.

The switching contact 46 ofjack includes a terminal 47, while outercontact 42 includes an electrical terminal 41. Insulating members 48(shaded in FIG. 2) insulate the various contacts and terminals of thejack.

Conductor 36 is soldered to terminal 41, to terminal 47, and has a freeend which can be fitted under spring 22 to be held in contact withconductor 21 of the flashlight as seen in FIG. 2. Conductor 36 couldalso be positioned between the rear surface 38 of interrupter 30 andspring 22 or otherwise electrically coupled to the spring or conductor21. In metal case flashlights, conductor 21 is the case, while withinsulated flashlights, a conducting strip is provided to make theelectrical connection between the spring 22 and the switch 20. In theembodiment shown, switch 20 moves a conducting strip 19 into and out ofcontact with a conductive lamp reflector 15 which is coupled to one ofthe terminals of lamp 14. In other embodiments, various otherconventional switching arrangements can be employed.

Nearly any conventional flashlight can be converted into the continuitytester of the type described and claimed herein by employing theconversion kit shown in FIG. 4 including the circuit interrupter, jackand plug. To modify a conventional cylindrical flashlight, it isnecessary only to drill a jack-receiving aperture pref- 6 erablycentrally in the rear end of the flashlight such 5 that the bias spring22 will clear the jack once installed. The jack is then threaded throughthe bias spring with conductor 36 between the spring and the rear of thecase and the jack fitted into the aperture. To facilitate installationthe bias spring can be removed from the light and reinstalled with theconversion kit fitted therethrough. The jack is secured to the light bythreading the knurled nut 49' onto the threaded end 49 of the jack. Wheninstalled, the spring 22 pushes against rear surface 38 of circuitinterrupter 30 to hold the contact 32 against the negative terminal ofbattery 18. A lantern type of flashlight can be converted by positioningthe jack at any accessible area within the light and coupling terminal43 and interconnected terminals 41 and 47 in series with one of theswitch leads generally present.

In use, the switch 20 of the continuity tester is moved to the onposition once plug 50 is inserted into jack 40. Clips 59 are coupled tothe circuit points under check. If continuity exists, lamp 14 willilluminate. When plug 50 is removed, the unit operates as a normalflashlight since the jack 40 electrically bypasses the circuitinterrupter. In some units where space permits, a miniature phone jackand plug can replace the sub-miniature combination. These and othervariations of the preferred embodiment will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art and will fall within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, abattery, and circuit means including a bias spring contacting oneterminal of said battery for selectively coupling said lamp in circuitwith said source to illuminate said lamp, wherein the improvementcomprises:

an insulating member positioned between said one battery terminal andsaid bias spring, a conductor coupled to said insulating member todefine, at least in part, an electrical contact on a surface of saidinsulating member adjacent said battery to couple said one batteryterminal to said conductor;

a switch-including jack positioned on said flashlight and having firstand second jack contacts one jack contact of which is coupled to saidconductor on said insulating member, the remaining jack contact of whichis electrically coupled to said circuit means of said flashlight on theside of said insulating member opposite said contact, and a switchingcontact coupled between said first and second jack contacts; and

a plug adapted to fit in said jack and including a pair of contactswhich contact said first and second jack contacts and a pair ofcontinuity test leads coupled to said pair of plug contacts wherein saidswitching contact is selectively actuated by the insertion and removalof said plug into said jack to bypass said insulating member when saidplug is removed, and to bypass said interruption means when the plug isinserted into said jack and electrical continuity exists between saidcontinuity test leads.

2. A continuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, atleast one battery having a pair of electrical terminals, and circuitmeans selectively coupling said lamp in circuit with said battery toilluminate said lamp, wherein the improvement comprises:

circuit interruption means comprising a disc of insulating materialhaving an aperture formed therethrough and a conductor having one endextending through said aperture to provide an electrical contact on oneside of said disc, said disc positioned between one of said terminals ofsaid battery and associated circuit means normally in contact with saidone battery terminal; switch-including jack positioned on saidflashlight and having first and second contacts electrically coupled tosaid circuit means of said flashlight on opposite sides of said circuitinterruption means with one of said contacts coupled to said conductorextending from said disc; a switching contact coupled between said firstand second contacts of said switch-including jack; and a plug adapted tofit in said jack and including a pair of contacts which contact saidfirst and second contacts of said jack and a pair of continuity testleads coupled to said pair of plug contacts when said switching contactis selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug intosaid jack to bypass said circuit interruption means when said plug isremoved, and to bypass said interruption means when the plug is insertedinto said jack and electrical continuity exists between said continuitytest leads.

3. The continuity tester as defined in claim 2 wherein said remainingcontact of said jack is electrically coupled to the circuit element incontact with an opposite surface of said disc.

4. The continuity tester as defined in claim 3 wherein said jackcomprises a sub-miniature phone jack positioned on one end of the caseof the flashlight.

5. A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlight including abias spring contacting one terminal of a battery fitted therein to acombined continuity tester/flashlight comprising:

a switch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted tocontact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack,said jack further including a switching contact coupled between saidfirst and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion andremoval of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple saidfirst and second jack contacts respectively;

an insulating member shaped to be fitted into a flashlight between oneterminal ofa battery and the bias spring normally contacting said oneterminal and including an electrical contact on a surface adjacent thebattery terminal to contact the terminal when the kit is installed in aflashlight; and

conducting means coupled from said contact on said insulating member toone of said first or second contacts of said jack whereby the remainingjack contact is adapted to be coupled in circuit with the flashlightwhen said kit is installed therein to electrically bypass saidinsulating member when said switching contact of said jack is closed toshort said first and second jack contacts.

6. A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlight to acombined continuity tester/flashlight comprising:

a switch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted tocontact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack,said jack further including a switching contact coupled between saidfirst and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion andremoval of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple saidfirst and second jack contacts respectively; and

means for coupling said first and second jack contacts in series withthe electrical circuit of a flashlight comprises a disc of insulatingmaterial having an aperture therein and adapted to be positioned incontact with one terminal of a battery of said flashlight and having anelectrical conductor with one end extending through said aperture toform an electrical contact on one side of said disc, said opposite endof said conductor coupled to one of said contacts of said jack, theremaining contact of said jack including conducting means thereonadapted to be coupled to a circuit element contacting a surface of saidinsulating disc opposite said electrical contact thereon.

7. The continuity tester as defined in claim 6 and furtherincluding aplug adapted to fit in said jack and having first and second contactswhich electrically contact said contacts of said jack and furtherincluding a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said contacts andextending from said plug.

8. A continuity tester comprising:

a flashlight including a battery-containing case having a conductingbias spring at one end thereof to position one or more batteries inelectrical contact with a lamp positioned at an opposite end thereof;

an insulating member having first and second opposed surfaces andpositioned between said bias spring and a battery when positioned insaid case to interrupt the electrical circuit therebetween;

a plug including first and second contacts and a pair of continuity testleads coupled to said contacts and extending from said plug;

a switch-including jack adapted to receive said plug and having firstand second contacts which contact said plug contacts and which areelectrically shorted when said plug is not inserted therein.

a first conductor extending from one of said jack contacts to one ofsaid surfaces of said insulating member to form an electrical contactwith a battery when positioned in said case; and

conducting means extending from the other of said jack contacts andcoupled to said bias spring.

9. The continuity tester as defined in claim 8 wherein said insulatingmember comprises a disc having an aperture therein and wherein saidfirstconductor has an end extending through said aperture to form anelectrical contact at one of the surfaces of said disc.

1. A continuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, abattery, and circuit means including a bias spring contacting oneterminal of said battery for selectively coupling said lamp in circuitwith said source to illuminate said lamp, wherein the improvementcomprises: an insulating member positioned between said one batteryterminal and said bias spring, a conductor coupled to said insulatingmember to define, at least in part, an electrical contact on a surfaceof said insulating member adjacent said battery to couple said onebattery terminal to said conductor; a switch-including jack positionedon said flashlight and having first and second jack contacts one jackcontact of which is coupled to said conductor on said insulating member,the remaining jack contact of which is electrically coupled to saidcircuit means of said flashlight on the side of said insulating memberopposite said contact, and a switching contact coupled between saidfirst and second jack contacts; and a plug adapted to fit in said jackand including a pair of contacts which contact said first and secondjack contacts and a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said pairof plug contacts wherein said switching contact is selectively actuatedby the insertion and removal of said plug into said jack to bypass saidinsulating member when said plug is removed, and to bypass saidinterruption means when the plug is inserted into said jack andelectrical continuity exists between said continuity test leads.
 2. Acontinuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, at least onebattery having a pair of electrical terminals, and circuit meansselectively coupling said lamp in circuit with said battery toilluminate said lamp, wherein the improvement comprises: circuitinterruption means comprising a disc of insulating material having anaperture formed therethrough and a conductor having one end extendingthrough said aperture to provide an electrical contact on one side ofsaid disc, said disc positioned between one of said terminals of saidbattery and associated circuit means normally in contact with said onebattery terminal; a switch-including jack positioned on said flashlightand having first and second contacts electrically coupled to saidcircuit means of said flashlight on opposite sides of said circuitinterruption means with one of said contacts coupled to said conductorextending from said disc; a switching contact coupled between said firstand second contacts of said switch-including jack; and a plug adapted tofit in said jack and including a pair of contacts which contact saidfirst and second contacts of said jack and a pair of continuity testleads coupled to said pair of plug contacts when said switching contactis selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug intosaid jack to bypass said circuit interruption means when said plug isremoved, and to bypass said interruption means when the plug is insertedinto said jack and electrical continuity exists between said continuitytest leads.
 3. The continuity tester as defined in claim 2 wherein saidremaining contact of said jack is electrically coupled to the circuiTelement in contact with an opposite surface of said disc.
 4. Thecontinuity tester as defined in claim 3 wherein said jack comprises asub-miniature phone jack positioned on one end of the case of theflashlight.
 5. A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlightincluding a bias spring contacting one terminal of a battery fittedtherein to a combined continuity tester/flashlight comprising: aswitch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted tocontact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack,said jack further including a switching contact coupled between saidfirst and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion andremoval of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple saidfirst and second jack contacts respectively; an insulating member shapedto be fitted into a flashlight between one terminal of a battery and thebias spring normally contacting said one terminal and including anelectrical contact on a surface adjacent the battery terminal to contactthe terminal when the kit is installed in a flashlight; and conductingmeans coupled from said contact on said insulating member to one of saidfirst or second contacts of said jack whereby the remaining jack contactis adapted to be coupled in circuit with the flashlight when said kit isinstalled therein to electrically bypass said insulating member whensaid switching contact of said jack is closed to short said first andsecond jack contacts.
 6. A conversion kit for converting a conventionalflashlight to a combined continuity tester/flashlight comprising: aswitch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted tocontact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack,said jack further including a switching contact coupled between saidfirst and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion andremoval of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple saidfirst and second jack contacts respectively; and means for coupling saidfirst and second jack contacts in series with the electrical circuit ofa flashlight comprises a disc of insulating material having an aperturetherein and adapted to be positioned in contact with one terminal of abattery of said flashlight and having an electrical conductor with oneend extending through said aperture to form an electrical contact on oneside of said disc, said opposite end of said conductor coupled to one ofsaid contacts of said jack, the remaining contact of said jack includingconducting means thereon adapted to be coupled to a circuit elementcontacting a surface of said insulating disc opposite said electricalcontact thereon.
 7. The continuity tester as defined in claim 6 andfurther including a plug adapted to fit in said jack and having firstand second contacts which electrically contact said contacts of saidjack and further including a pair of continuity test leads coupled tosaid contacts and extending from said plug.
 8. A continuity testercomprising: a flashlight including a battery-containing case having aconducting bias spring at one end thereof to position one or morebatteries in electrical contact with a lamp positioned at an oppositeend thereof; an insulating member having first and second opposedsurfaces and positioned between said bias spring and a battery whenpositioned in said case to interrupt the electrical circuittherebetween; a plug including first and second contacts and a pair ofcontinuity test leads coupled to said contacts and extending from saidplug; a switch-including jack adapted to receive said plug and havingfirst and second contacts which contact said plug contacts and which areelectrically shorted when said plug is not inserted therein. a firstconductor extending from one of said jack contacts to one of saidsurfaces of said insulating member to form an electrical contact with abattery when positioned in said case; and conducting means extEndingfrom the other of said jack contacts and coupled to said bias spring. 9.The continuity tester as defined in claim 8 wherein said insulatingmember comprises a disc having an aperture therein and wherein saidfirst conductor has an end extending through said aperture to form anelectrical contact at one of the surfaces of said disc.